Bottle package



Oct. 13, 1 64 J. v. MAHON I 3,152,688

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United States Patent 3,152,688 BOTTLE PACKAGE John V. Matron,Norristown, Pa, assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago,11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 101,152 3Claims. ((31. 2116-65) The present invention relates to a bottlepackage, to a form of carton from which the bottle package may beproduced, and to a packaging method.

An important object of the invention is to provide an economical form ofcarton which will afford a maximum degree of protection to a group ofcontained bottles from a blank of minimum area and minimum caliper orgrade of paperboard.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of bottle packagein which the carton enclosing a group of bottles has internal cushioningparts, arranged at the junctures of the vertical walls and top wall,which engage the shoulder portions of the end bottles of a containedgroup of two rows of bottles, thereby tending to protect such endbottles from breakage even though the package is subjected to severehandling.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle packagewhich may be formed by wrapping the carton blank around a bottle group,such carton blank being well adapted for use in high-speed bottlepackaging equipment. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a form of carton whichmay be utilized either as a wrap-around carton or may be preglued intotubular form at the carton plant, in which case bottles may be loadedinto the open sides of the tubular carton.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a bottlecarrier, adapted either to be wrapped around a bottle group or adaptedto be utilized in preglued, tubular form, an improved top wall structureformed with restricted bottle neck receiving openings designed to beforced over the necks of capped bottles and, when so assembled, will beheld from removal by the edges of the bottle caps.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel packagingmethod wherein a group of bottles is delivered within a tubular, set-upcarton having an apertured top wall for receiving the bottle necks, thecarton end walls being higher than the bottle height and having inwardlyfoldable, cushioning portions, whereby the top wall and cushioningportions may be brought simultaneously into bottle engaging condition toform a package.

Additional and more specific objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the carton in its fully set up conditionbut, for clarity, omitting showing the bottles contained within thecarton;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1,illustrating bottles within the carton and showing the cushioningelements bearing upon the sloping shoulders of the bottles;

FIG. 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

. FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view showing the parts which form thecushioning element at one end of the carton;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail View showing the end structureof the carton in the process of being folded into final position; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a preferred form of blank from which the cartonmay be made.

ice

The carton, as herein disclosed, is formed from foldable paperboard as aone-piece blank, cut and scored to provide an elongated bottom panellocated centrally of the blank. End wall panels at each end of thebottom panel are formed of a dimension longitudinally of the blank whichis greater than the bottle height. The upper part of the end wall panelscomprises two narrow sections arranged to be folded inwardly and serveas cushioning members. At each end of the blank are partial top panelsarranged to be secured in overlapping position to form a composite topwall panel. The top panel sections are apertured to receive the necks ofthe bottles when the top panel is in final position. The bottom and endwall panels preferably have narrow edge extensions foldable inward alongthe sides of the package to partially enclose such sides. The top wallpanel also has extended edge portions arranged to be folded down andsecured to the folded extensions on the end walls.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the paperboard blank isgenerally rectangular and has a bottom panel 1, end panels 2, 2,supplemental end panel sections 3, 3 and 4,4 and top panels 5,5. Thebottom panel is defined from the end panels by fold lines 6, 6 and thesupplemental end panel sections 3 and 4 are each foldable along foldline 7. Sections 3, 3 are foldably joined to main end wall sectionsalong fold lines 8, 8 and sections 4, 4 are foldably joined to the topwall panels along fold lines 9, 9.

The bottom panel is formed with a plurality of U- shaped cuts to provideupwardly foldable tabs 10, 10 which serve to separate the bottles 11, 11contained in the package.

The bottom and end panels preferably have flap extensions 12 and 13, 13at each side arranged to be folded into the plane of the package sidesand secured to each other, as by means of adhesive. The top panelsections are preferably formed to follow the contour of the containedbottle group and for this purpose the sections are scored at 14, 14 toprovide fold lines separating the main top panels from supplemental toppanel sections, indicated at 5a, 5a. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, thesesupplemental top sections in the completed form of the package areinclined to the main sections and generally follow the contour of thesloping shoulders of the bottles. The sections 5a, So at one end of theblank carry flaps 15, 15 hinged along fold lines 16, 16, and at theother end of the blank the flaps 5a, 5a carry flaps 17, 17 hinged alongfold line 18, 18. At the extremity of the blank narrow V-shaped cuts19,19 are formed in alignment with the fold lines 18, 18 for a purposeto be explained presently.

The top panel sections are each preferably formed with two oval openings21, 21 to receive the necks of bottles and at the outer free edges ofthe sections there are form-ed U-shaped cuts 22, 22. The top panelsections are designed to be secured together in overlapping relation andthe extent of overlap is sufiicient to cause the pairs of U-shaped cuts22, 22 to form elongated, oval openings substantially the same asopenings 21, 21.

The top panel sections are secured together preferably by adhesive andwith the extended flaps 17, 17 placed below flaps 15, 15. The V-shapedcuts 19, 19 are thus disposed so that their edges lie at the sides ofthe fold lines 16, 16 on the overlying panel section (see FIG. 2) thusavoiding excessive paperboard to be folded when the overlapping flaps 15and 15 are to be bent over relative to their attached top panelsections.

The supplemental end panel sections 3 and 4 are designed in thecompleted package to form reentrant, or infolded, dihedral angles whichprovide cushioning members for the end bottles of the rows, as shown inFIG. 2. In the present instance, section 3 is inclined inwardly and 3upwardly to assume approximately the same angle as the sloping bottleshoulders.

In assembling the carton around a bottle group advantage is taken of theelongated openings in the top panel sections. The longer dimension ofthe openings is formed greater than the diameter of the bottle caps 20,20, and the smaller dimension is formed smaller than the cap diameterand approximately the same as the outside bottle neck diameter. Thus,the top panel sections may be forced down so that the capped bottle topssnap through the opening. This is permitted by upward deflection of thestock at the longer sides of the opening as the capped top is passingthrough. After the caps: have all passed through their openings therewill be definite resistance to removal of the top panels upward off thebottle necks. In fact, removal of such caps through the openings usuallyinvolves tearing of the panels unless particular care is exercised.

It is to be noted that, by folding the cushioning sections 3 and 4inwardly and simultaneously pressing down the top panel sections overthe bottle caps, the top panels will be retained in position tending tohold the cushioning panels in folded position.

Additional means are preferably provided for retaining the top panel andthe cushioning panels in position. This is effected by adhesively, orotherwise, securing flaps 15 and 17 on the panel sections a to the upperend portions of folded flaps 13 on the end walls. For obtaining stillgreater strengthening of the ends of the cushioning panels, each panel 3has a triangular section 23 at each end defined from its attached panelby a diagonalror gusset fold line 24. The triangular section 23 isattached to an end extension 13a of flap 13 along hinge line 25. Theextension 13a is hinged to the main portion of flap 13 along fold line26. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5, as the panel 3 is folded inward thiswill tend to pull the triangular section 23 inward, and section 23 andthe extended portion 13a of flap 13 can be brought into contact. Theseparts may then be folded inward at the same angle that panel 5a willassume in its final position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Panel 5a in thecompleted package will completely overlie the infolded parts 130 and 23and the fold line 25 between these parts will be in substantialregistration with the outer edge of the panel 50.

By this construction the upper parts of the bottles are well protectedagainst danger of breakage by reason of rough handling. The gusset foldsat the corners of the package provide a particularly rigid constructionwhich assures a high degree package strength even when relatively lightcaliper board is employed.

The top panel sections are each provided with finger openings formed bymaking U-shaped cuts 28, 28, leaving tabs 2a, 29 in place and foldablealong score lines 3%), 3i). The score lines 3%, 3% in the completedpackage will extend along the outer edges of the top panel sections.Thus, between the openings formed by cuts 28, 28, is a double thicknessof paperboard that adds strength where the stress is greatest when thepackage is carried by insertion of a persons fingers through the fingeropenings. It is to be noted that..the tabs 29 when forced inward andupward below the double thickness of paperboardadd an additionalthickness at this point and provide rounded edges which make the packageeasier to carry.

The carton may be loaded with contents by utilizing known forms ofmachines which wrap the carton around the bottles. It may also be loadedby pregluing the carton in tubular form and moving the bottles into thecarton through the open sides. In carrying out the latter method offorming the package, the cartons will be prepared in collapsible,tubular form by adhesively joining the top panel sections as abovedescribed. The cartons may thus be delivered in fiat, tubular form tothe user. The cartons will first be brought to open rectangular formwith the side extensions 12 and 13 left in the planes of their attachedpanels. Also the supplemental top panels 5a and their extensions 15 and17 will be allowed to extend outward in the plane of the top panels. Thecushion forming panels 3 and 4 will remain unfolded to lie substantiallyin the plane of the end wall panels. Bottles of the relative heightindicated in FIG. 2 will then be loaded in upright position onto thebottom panel. It is to be noted that the bottles will pass easily belowthe top panels due to the fact that the cushioning panels have not beenfolded thus maintaining the top panel well above the bottle tops. Thebottles when delivered onto the bottom panel will be brought intopositions where their necks are in registration with the openings in thetop panel. This panel will then be brought down toward the bottles and,at the same time, the cushioning panels are preferably folded inwardlyand the end panels are held against the bottles at the ends of the rows.After the top panel has been brought down so that the bottle caps passthrough the openings, the top panel will be held from upward movement.The parts 23 and 13a will then be folded as shown in the drawings andthe supplemental top panel 5a will be swung down thereover. Adhesive isapplied at an appropriate time to the areas of extensions 15 and 17which are to overlap the extensions l3, l3 and these parts are broughttogether and held until the adhesive has set.

If desired, adhesive will also be applied between the contactingsurfaces of the extensions 13a and the supplememtal top panels 5a. Theextensions 12, 12 on the bottom panel will then be folded up and theirends adhesively secured to the extensions 13, 13.

The tabs 1t), 10, serving as separators between adjacent bottles, may befolded upward in any suitable manner as the bottles are in the processof being delivered through the open sides of the carton.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the form of carton hereindisclosed is effective in the packaging of a group of bottles. Thecushioning pants at the upper ends of the package provide a relativelyrigid end structure serving to protect the packages during handling andaffording desirable package rigidity for stacking in retail stores. Theinwardly and upwardly folded side extensions serve to increase thestrength and rigidity of the carton and due to these features it isfeasible to utilize relatively light caliper paperboard in producing thecarton.

While the present description sets forth a preferred embodiment of theinvention, numerous changes may be made in the construction and in thesteps involved in producing the packages without departing from thespirit of the invention, and it is therefore desired that the presentembodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative andnotrestrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather thanto the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A package comprising a group of capped, slopingshoulder bottlesarranged in two rows within an open-side, paperboard carton comprisingan elongated bottom panel, an end'wall panel carried at each end of thebottom panel, a top wall panel, internal cushioning members at each endof the package, each cushioning member comprising two elongated, narrowpanels hinged together along their lateral edges, the outer lateral edgeof one panel. beingv hinged to the upper end of the end wall panel andthe outer lateral edge of the other panel being hinged to the end of thetop wall panel, the first narrow panel, connected to each end wall,being inclined upwardly and inwardly to contact fiatwise along thesloping shoulders of the end bottles of the rows, and the second narrowpanel being inclined outwardly and upwardly away from the bottles, thetop wall panel having openings formed therein receiving the cappedbottle tops, a part of the edge portions of the top wall panel around atleast some of the openings being in looking engagement below the edgesof the bottle caps to hold the top wall panel at a level below the capsand thereby retain the narrow panels in cushioning position.

2. A package comprising a group of capped, slopingshoulder bottlesarranged in two rows within an openside, paperboard carton comprising anelongated bottom panel, an end wall panel carried at each end of thebottom panel, a top wall panel, internal cushioning memhers at each endof the package, each cushioning member comprising two elongated, narrowpanels hinged together along their lateral edges, the outer lateral edgeof one panel being hinged to the upper end of the end wall panel and theouter lateral edge of the other panel being hinged to the end of the topwall panel, the first narrow panel, connected to each end wall, beinginclined upwardly and inwardly to contact flatwise along the slopingshoulders of the end bottles of the rows, and the second narrow panelbeing inclined outwardly and upwardly away from the bottles, the topwall panel having a plurality of elongated openings formed thereinthrough which the bottle tops project, such openings, at least at theends of the top wall panel, having their lesser dimension less than thediameter of the bottle caps, whereby the marginal portions of the capswill engage downwardly against edge portions of the top wall panel atthe openings and retain the top wall panel beneath the level of thebottle caps.

3. A package comprising a group of sloping-shoulder bottles arranged intwo rows within an open-side, paperboard carton comprising an elongatedbottom panel, an end wall panel carried at each end of the bottom panel,a top wall panel, internal cushioning members at each end of thepackage, each cushioning member comprising two elongated, narrow panelshinged together along their lateral edges, the outer lateral edge of onepanel being hinged to the upper end of the end wall panel and the outerlateral edge of the other panel being hinged to the end of the top wallpanel, the first narrow panel, connected to each end wall, beinginclined upwardly and inwardly to contact flatwise along thesloping-shoulders of the end bottles of the rows, and the second narrowpanel being inclined outwardly and upwardly away from the bottles, theend wall panels having extended edge portions along their vertical edgesprojecting inwardly along the sides of the package, and the longitudinaledges of the top wall panel each having flaps extending downward andsecured respectively to the upper ends of the extended edge portions onthe end wall panels, whereby the top wall panels are held in place andthe inturned cushioning flaps are held in cushioning position; whereinthe first narrow, cushioning panel hinged to the top of each end wallpanel has a triangular section at each end, each of which is hingedalong a gusset fold line terminating at the point of intersection of thehinge of such first cushioning panel and the juncture of the extendededge portion on the end Wall, the upper end of each extended edgeportion on the end wall having a top extension hinged thereon and hingedto the outer edge of the respective triangular sections, whereby, afterinfolding the two cushioning panels, the infolded top extensions aredisposed fiatwise against the respective infolded triangular sections onthe first cushioning panel, the flaps on the edges of the top wall panelbeing secured in overlapping relation to the respective inturnedextended edge portions on the end walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,006,475 OReilly July 2, 1935 2,282,619 Swan et al. May 12, 19422,345,566 Arneson Apr. 4, 1944 2,654,474 Ringler Oct. 6, 1953 2,663,413Foster Dec. 22, 1953 2,847,152 Van Antwerpen Aug. 12, 1958 2,877,942 VanAntwerpen May 17, 1959 2,889,040 Fisher June 2, 1959 2,975,891 StoneMar. 21, 1961 2,986,857 Ganz June 6, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 759,256 GreatBritain Oct. 17, 1956

3. A PACKAGE COMPRISING A GROUP OF SLOPING-SHOULDER BOTTLES ARRANGED INTWO ROWS WITHIN AN OPEN-SIDE, PAPERBOARD CARTON COMPRISING AN ELONGATEDBOTTOM PANEL, AN END WALL PANEL CARRIED AT EACH END OF THE BOTTOM PANEL,A TOP WALL PANEL, INTERNAL CUSHIONING MEMBERS AT EACH END OF THEPACKAGE, EACH CUSHIONING MEMBER COMPRISING TWO ELONGATED, NARROW PANELSHINGED TOGETHER ALONG THEIR LATERAL EDGES, THE OUTER LATERAL EDGE OF ONEPANEL BEING HINGED TO THE UPPER END OF THE END WALL PANEL AND THE OUTERLATERAL EDGE OF THE OTHER PANEL BEING HINGED TO THE END OF THE TOP WALLPANEL, THE FIRST NARROW PANEL, CONNECTED TO EACH END WALL, BEINGINCLINED UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY TO CONTACT FLATWISE ALONG THESLOPING-SHOULDERS OF THE END BOTTLES OF THE ROWS, AND THE SECOND NARROWPANEL BEING INCLINED OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY AWAY FROM THE BOTTLES, THEEND WALL PANELS HAVING EXTENDED EDGE PORTIONS ALONG THEIR VERTICAL EDGESPROJECTING INWARDLY ALONG THE SIDES OF THE PACKAGE, AND THE LONGITUDINALEDGES OF THE TOP WALL PANEL EACH HAVING FLAPS EXTENDING DOWNWARD ANDSECURED RESPECTIVELY TO THE UPPER ENDS OF THE EXTENDED EDGE PORTIONS ONTHE END WALL PANELS, WHEREBY THE TOP WALL PANELS ARE HELD IN PLACE ANDTHE INTURNED CUSHIONING FLAPS ARE HELD IN CUSHIONING POSITION; WHEREINTHE FIRST NARROW, CUSHIONING PANEL HINGED TO THE TOP OF EACH END WALLPANEL HAS A TRIANGULAR SECTION AT EACH END, EACH OF WHICH IS HINGEDALONG A GUSSET FOLD LINE TERMINATING AT THE POINT OF INTERSECTION OF THEHINGE OF SUCH FIRST CUSHIONING PANEL AND THE JUNCTURE OF THE EXTENDEDEDGE PORTION ON THE END WALL, THE UPPER END OF EACH EXTENDED EDGEPORTION ON THE END WALL HAVING A TOP EXTENSION HINGED THEREON AND HINGEDTO THE OUTER EDGE OF THE RESPECTIVE TRIANGULAR SECTIONS, WHEREBY, AFTERINFOLDING THE TWO CUSHIONING PANELS, THE INFOLDED TOP EXTENSIONS AREDISPOSED FLATWISE AGAINST THE RESPECTIVE INFOLDED TRIANGULAR SECTIONS ONTHE FIRST CUSHIONING PANEL, THE FLAPS ON THE EDGES OF THE TOP WALL PANELBEING SECURED IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO THE RESPECTIVE INTURNEDEXTENDED EDGE PORTIONS ON THE END WALLS.